To think Farage surely has to go

[OneKookyShark]

So Farage has some dodgy private company set up to avoid paying tax. Is he being pressured to resign as head of Reform? Of course not. Because he’s an entitled privileged man.

The double standards are incredible really. Here’s the story https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/sep/05/nigel-farage-uses-private-company-to-pay-less-tax-on-gb-news-earnings

While I think Rayner had to resign, why are the same standards not being applied?

No I don't agree with you. I liked Rishi Sunak, and his government. I would have them back in a heartbeat.
Labour have been appalling so far. Just because you feel better off under Labour, doesn't mean that others feel the same.

they definitely shouldn't be; but to say they are doing an appalling job is just not true. Agree mistakes have been made but on balance I think they are doing a better job of making progress. And in my view it's quite short sighted to expect to see big changes in a year.

fair enough, I'm not asking anyone to feel the same, I am just asking them to check they know what they are talking about before saying "anything but this govt". which just to be clear I don't think you are

And just because you feel Labour makes you worse off doesn’t mean others feel the same.
Various websites watching progress show Labour getting through their manifesto pledges quite nicely.

Do they reflect the high borrowing costs and the hit to SMEs?

Of course everyone’s situation is different, 11% approve and 70% disapprove, how people feel Labour is doing will differ.

It’s a very small demographic that has actually felt an improvement rather than a loss: a subset of public sector workers (esp who are also on UC), people retired on public sector pensions, fully state funded people, third world immigrants and prospective immigrants and obviously Labour MPs.

All those arguing that Labour is doing a good job will be of one of those groups.

They reflect the manifesto pledges. You know, the things people voted for. Economic news seems mixed - and FWIW I don’t think they are going about it the right way, despite it being the way they said they would. I suspect what I think would be even further from what you would like that Labour currently though.

I don’t believe the pledges said we’d struggle with incredibly high debt repayments or get round tax rises on ‘working people’ by hitting SMEs. People can see what’s happening there and they mostly don’t like it.

Btw if you mean further left I don’t mind at all, I think it’s great an option is being created for that. Polanski and Corbyn seem to say the same things in their statements, they should get together.

Well that does surprise me!
Yes, Polanski has said some excellent things. I think he’s wrong about NATO though and that’s a very big thing to be wrong about. We done need more isolation but less. Economic and migrant related issues need international cooperation at this point.

Yes I asked about NATO on another thread as that concerns me. I also question whether he means nuclear disarmament for just us or only if others do it as we could be exposed.

But both Corbyn and Polanski have coherent positions imo (some nuttier stuff aside, but the core equality part). Whether it’s doable in a global market Idk but I’m not unhappy they are putting their stall out. I’m open to discussion there.

It is db standards when Lab get blamed for migrant hotels or over crowded prisons, when these are clearly things they inherited.

Nope, they ve done plenty of good things that the Tories refused to do, Industrial strat, chickenpox vaxx, Domestic violence, better relations with EU, 28bn for NHS, justice reforms, renters rights, Doubled, in just 12 months, council house builds.
They've also avoided a recession, which Sunak never did.

Tories shouldn't get praise for introducing policies that reduced migration.... they took it from 240k pa to 1.2m..... totally fucked it all up.

The Tories had 14 years to show us what they could do... & i await your acknowledgement that they were a shower of shit.....

You'll be waiting a long time. My business is on it's knees thanks to Labour. That's my livelihood on the line.

The tories were clearly a shower of shit. They broke everything. Now labour have borrowed against future growth, and then done everything they can to stop the growth. After only 1 year the unions have turned on the government with strikes as they know labour will cave (again). Streeting seems genuinely surprised that the medical unions are back after he gave them everything, which shows huge naivety. They went from aiming to whiter than white or a murky grey in months. It tuns out they are just as much of a shit show. That is why the country is turning to Reform. If this is the best two ex-"main" stream parties can do far better to try something else.

You can keep saying this all day long, but Labour ideology always ends up where we are now: Poorer, divided, fewer jobs per capita, striking public sector, falling education standards, low economic growth, less disposable income, authoritarian thought/speech policing, stagnant property and job markets and mass immigration. Children’s Education tax FFS??

Reform are preferable to Labour for the majority, it’s a low bar to be honest. Banging on about the Tories isn’t going to help your cause.

You’re not alone, that’s the problem re Labour. Sorry it’s happening btw so tough.

Labour didn't give into the Unions, the pay rises were part of independent reviews authorised by Hunt.
Rail strikes were costing billions, cost 135m to stop.

Doctors deserve more pay & the strikes atm are half hearted, with Streeting having a different way to mitigate.

IF Labour fix x ch migration, Reform will lose their appeal, its still just 30% who support them....

How about blaming Hunt for costing the Govt £10bn per year in having to fund NI cuts?

He slashed NI, but had no means to fund it, leaving Reeves the options of borrowing/taxing or cuts

How would you fund this 10bn?

...and i'm sorry about your business, i hope you pull through.

A stir?

Labour always give in to the unions. Ultimately the unions are the Labour Puppeteer. The minute they were in power they caved. They now have egg on their face that the unions are back again barely a year on striking. It's always the same. L:abour are falling apart after a year. Starmer won't make it to a another election.

The 'Labour Party' literally grew out of the Trade Union movement, the clue is in the title!

You can have strong economic growth, high taxes and strong Trade Unions, they do in the Scandinavian countries and where my extended family are from in Denmark, Trade Union membership is not radical or unusual.

No patronise me. I know the history. That is one of the reasons they always give in. Many unions members used to have to pay fees to the Labour party as part of their membership - fortunately that has reduced. It's only a matter of time until Reform will reduce the Union rights thank god.

I am truly sorry to hear this; I hope things improve. Can you explain what Labour have done to cause this- I hope I’m not being intrusive I truly would like to understand how things should be improved for small businesses.

I’m not in one of those groups by the way. I am a single mother whose children are just about grown up, I’ve supported myself and the kids through the tory years and the appalling state of SEN support. and no child benefit for singletons who earn over the amount for couples!

You make Reform sound rather sinister there like they are the The Zod Trio in the Superman 1980's films just enjoying making everyone's lives more miserable for their own gain!

So Reform don't value ordinary working people, nice to know.